Gr 1-3 Only two kids in Roscoe's class are lucky enough to own the new fashion fad, sneakers with built-in walkie-talkies. Then an out-of-the-blue package arrives for Roscoe from Great-aunt Imogene, and he joins the cool set. When his friend Gus can't get new shoes because his old ones are not worn out, Roscoe sets to work on his pal's seemingly indestructible footwear. Then, just when Gus's mother relents, the school outlaws the sneakers, and Roscoe ends up in time out for destroying his friend's old ones. End matter includes an entertaining list of things Roscoe wonders about before falling asleep and a preview of the next book in the series. Applegate perfectly captures the voice of kids in this fast-paced, funny title. Children will love the short chapters, kid ingenuity, and comical illustrations. Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI

Roscoe again faces time-outs in these lively if formulaic chapter books. In Talk, Roscoe and his friend plot to get some cool new kicks. In Pumpkin, Roscoe's superstitions may derail his attempts to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin and win the candy prize. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations depict rascally Roscoe's adventures.